“The thing that always speaks loudest to our future is the voice of our past.” The Vine Church Fasting Devotional
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13-14)
All of us want to be successful in life. All of us want to make a difference and live a life that counts for something. All of us want to leave behind a legacy of goodness.
Too often, though, we find our feet mired in the present because of our past. We can’t move towards what God has for us in the future because what is behind us is still holding onto us. The Apostle Paul understood this better than any of us.
Paul had persecuted Christians. He had ripped apart families, beaten and arrested the followers of Jesus, and probably even had some of them put to death. After his own dramatic conversion, the guilt of what he had done must have been tremendous. The voice whispered, “Who are you to preach this message of God’s love after what you did? Why should anyone listen to you? You are not worthy to be a minister of the Gospel.”
Paul understood, however, that the power of forgiveness had the power to overshadow his past. The power of grace had the power to cover his sins and failures. He also understood that the power of hope gave him the strength to push forward towards his future. He did not allow his feet to stay stuck in guilt and shame.
How about you? Do you struggle with guilt and regret from your past? Do you hear that same voice that spoke to Paul also telling you that you are not good enough? My prayer for you this week is that you will be able to push forward toward the goal that God has in front of you!
Annie and I are serving the Lord in the US, Africa, South America, and India. We are training leaders and helping build great local churches. Would you consider joining our team? Just click here to get involved. Thanks so much!
